I had a lot of pictures here so I thought I would give this it's own post. I let the kids get really really messy- tried not to let myself get too anxious, ya know?! And it turned out to be one of my favorite activities with them!
This year I bought a few new books that really added to the collection... since I had more than 25, I put a few in a basket that was out all year long and I think I will do the same next year. A very sweet friend of mine just donated a bunch of Christmas books that will get added next year too- I think we are already set!
I really really wish I had taken some pictures of the kids reading these books. I loved reading these to them and was surprised at how intently they listened to each story every morning. My FAVORITES from this year were The Nutcracker (it's a beautifully illustrated book), a Christmas Goodnight (illustrated by the wonderfully talented Sarah Jane Wright- who also sent us a personally signed book plate!!!) , The Tale of Three Trees (this one is sure to make you cry if you are religious) and a Wish to be a Christmas Tree.
We started a new tradition last year when we discovered there was a charming little Christmas tree farm about 5 minutes from our house! We paid a visit and fell in love with the place and I couldn't wait to wake up on Black Friday and pick out our Christmas tree! I won't mention the small meltdown by Joselyn... we don't really want to remember that although I did take a picture just so I could show her later. Is that mean? Maybe I'll post it right smack in the middle of this post that way I start on a good note and end on a good note- since that's pretty much how it all worked out anyway!
One thing I remember from last year was that it was SO COLD. It was the first snowfall of the year I believe and the kids did NOT have fun. Instead of picking one out and cutting it down ourselves, we chose a pre-cut one so we didn't all have to be miseable. This year we were blessed with BEAUTIFUL weather, which made the whole experience so much more enjoyable! The kids ran up and down the rows of trees in search of the perfect tree.
Occasionally, we would find a cute little one- and Joselyn ALMOST talked me into getting one of those!
And the meltdown happened... can't even remember what triggered it, but most of the time a specific trigger is not needed.
We finally settled on a smaller tree we thought would fit perfectly in our little space and Adam cut it down. He said it was very satisfying- I think it is too! I love that we picked it out together as a family and that we get to enjoy it's freshness throughout this Christmas season.
One thing I love about this place is that they take a picture of everyone who comes to pick out a tree and displays their picture the following year in their barn. The kids and I had fun searching for our picture from last year on the large wall! And here's our picture from this year :)
After our picture, the crew shakes out the tree, drills a whole in the bottom and attaches it to the stand then helps you load it up! We tie ours to the top of the Jeep and since we just live down the street practically, this is no big deal and quite fun for the kids!
We waited until that evening to decorate the tree, and now we have it all decked out. It's amazing how a simple thing such as a Christmas tree can bring such the Christmas spirit into our home! WE kept it really child friendly, and I love the eclectic look of the soft ornaments we've collected (or made) over the years. Pictures of the tree coming soon!
Attending the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Arizona temple is another one of those traditions that I hold close to my heart. I recently learned that my grandparents were one of the first to produce this pageant in the capicity it is held in today. There are literally thousands who come to see this production and it is quite amazing. When I was growing up in Mesa, my grandmother was the narrator for this pageant as well. So it was only fitting to go see it while we were there. My mom and Aunt Laura went really early to save us some seats and Joselyn and I arrived about 2 hours before it started. I took that opportunity to just enjoy the beautiful grounds and let Joselyn run free. Still in her Rapunzel character, she kicked off her shoes and started singing "I feel the grass and dirt just how I dreamed it'd be.... for the first time EVER I'm completely FREE!!" I was smiling so big my cheeks hurt.
The flowers were beautiful. And the grass... what I wouldn't give to get our grass to look and feel like the grass on the temple grounds there!!
While there we saw 3 couples who just got married and were taking pictures. Joselyn stopped all of them and told them they were so pretty and beautiful- even gave one of them a flower! They loved it of course. We also met some of the characters who were walking around before the pageant started. This one girl gave Joselyn a bracelet.
This was only the halfway point- behind the chairs are areas for blankets and such to sit on the hill and watch. We were pretty close to the stage and still had a hard time seeing everything... wonder what the people way back here thought?
Everything about the pageant was beautiful. I loved that they used live animals- made it so interesting. And of course this was especially nice since it would be the only Easter actvity Joselyn and I would have all during Easter. But I must say this was a great way for Joselyn to learn the true Easter story.
To learn more about temples go here.
One thing we like to do often is go out for breakfast on Saturdays. It's a special little treat and something different. We haven't been in a while because of the winter weather but the sun was streaming through our windows this morning and it was so beautiful outside. So we went to Cosi for breakfast :) My favorite.I didn't have my real camera on me so I took a few snapshots with my phone. A fun little tradition!
I kind of can't believe I paid someone to make oatmeal for me... but it was still quite yummy!
Joselyn got a little chocolate above her mouth from her chocolate chip "squagel" but it sure was cute!
Awww... and maybe te sweetest picture of the day.
This was probably one of my favorite activities so far this Christmas! On the 11th, I placed Mr. Grinch and his trusty old dog Max under the tree, as well as the movie and book. I kind of thought that Joselyn would want the dog and Landen would want Mr.Grinch, but they were both drawn to the other. We watched the movie and Joselyn fell in love. Ever since then, she can't stop singing "yahoo borez yahoo borez" and "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch". Except she actually added a verse to the song.... "Joselyn loves you, Mr. Grinch" Adorable.
Yesterday, I was trying to take pictures of the kids in their new Christmas outfits for church and the only way I could get her to cooperate was by bringing Mr.Grinch into the pictures.
Landen wanted a picture with Mr. Grinch too...
Reading the book is always fun too...
Our activity advent has kind of been mixed up a little... sickness hit the Noe Household and ice has covered Lexington so we've had to skip a few things... and switch a few other things around. Since I had the gingerbread house kit laying around the house, we did this activity a little early.
I bought the gingerbread village and the houses were perfectly sized for tiny hands. I was pleasantly surprised that both Joselyn and Landen actually decorated their houses with the candy instead of eating it!
Eventually Landen realized it was all edible. And then cried when his house fell apart after he ate one of the walls. So we had to make him 2 houses.
Can you tell who's was who's?
It is very important to me for my children to know the true meaning of Christmas... it's hard these days with all this talk of Santa Clause and presents. So we took the kids to the live nativity and have tried hard to instill in their minds that Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus Christ's birthday. I found an awesome wooden nativity set and on day 12, the kids got to open it. I was touched when after opening, Joselyn acted out the whole Christmas story with her new figurines. She was so excited.
"You're going to have a baby, Mary!" The Angel would tell Mary.
"Come on, Joseph, let's go to the barn to have a baby" Mary says to Joseph.
"Come on Shepherds! Follow the star and we can go see baby Jesus!"
"Jesus, we brought you some presents" say the wise men.
All words from a little three year old who knows the real Christmas story.
Besides the activity advent, we are also reading a new Christmas/winter book everyday until Christmas! This has been so fun... I put a new book under the tree every day (I've wanted to wrap them but I haven't been because I forget!) and at some point during the day, the kids will remember to look under the tree and find it! We'll then sit down and read it together. Landen doesn't usually last through the whole story, but Joselyn sure loves it! Most of the books are really cheap books that I bought from the Scholastic book order form or cheaper books at the book store- but there are a few nice ones in there.I hope to add a few nicer ones every year so that we will have a good collection as the kids get older. When we are done with the particular book for the day, we place it in a basket by the fireplace so the kids can get them out whenever the want to. I've really loved this tradition! We also placed a few other Christmas related (or Christ related) books in there for them to read too.
If you recommend any favorite Christmas books to add to this collection for the coming years, please let me know! PLEASE!! :)
1. What is Christmas?
2. Here Comes Santa Claus
3. Who is Coming to Our House?
4. The Coolest Snowman Ever
5. Frosty the Snowman
6. The Christmas Star
7. Reindeer Run ($1 bin at Target I think?)
8. Melrose & Croc: A Christmas to Remember
9. All I Want for Christmas
10. Little Porcupine's Christmas
11. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
12. The Christmas Story
13. Let it Snow
14. It's time for Christmas
15. One Winter's Day
16. The Biggest Snowman Ever
17. A Car's Christmas (fitting for Landen's birthday!)
18. Polar Express
19. A Star So Bright
20. The Penguin who Wanted to Fly
21. Christmas Cats
22. The Snow Bear
23. Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect
24. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
25. The Tale of Three Trees
This year we all made wooden ornaments for the tree. I thought we could make this a yearly tradition and it will be fun to see how the kids' creativity changes over the years.
Landen of course chose a train:
Joselyn chose a teddy bear:
I chose the nutcracker:
(I didn't paint the face... just the hat and outfit. Face was already there)
And Adam chose the drummer boy- UK style. Of course.
